Prospect Talent Score

Probability of Success

History

2003-04: DeLory played defense for the first time for the York Simcoe Express after being a forward during his youth hockey days and was selected by the Oshawa Generals in the first round of the 2004 OHL draft (eighth overall).
2004-05: DeLory struggled in his first season with last-place Oshawa. The converted forward scored 1 goal with 4 assists and was -21 with 82 PIM in 61 games as the Generals won just 15 games in finishing in the bottom of the East division.
2005-06: Oshawa again finished last in the East division but Delory made tremendous strides in his second OHL season. Delory scored 6 goals with 26 assists and was -22 with 136 PIM in 67 games for the Generals, with four of his six goals coming on the power play. Delory was selected by the San Jose Sharks in the fourth round (98th overall) in the 2006 NHL entry draft.
2006-07: DeLory’s season was one of ups and downs in his third year in Oshawa. On the positive side, the Generals finished second in the East division and advanced to the second round of the playoffs with DeLory an improved -11 plus/minus and also scoring timely goals, including two overtime, game-winners. On the downside, while his toughness and willingness to fight made the Generals a tough team for opposing teams to play, his lack of discipline and overzealousness at times led to suspensions and untimely penalties. Delory led the Generals with 167 PIM penalty minutes and scored 4 goals with 21 assists in 61 games. In nine playoff games, he had 4 assists and was -8 with 16 PIM as the Generals swept Kingston in the first round before falling to Belleville.
2007-08: Delory returned for his fourth season after attending camp with the Sharks. He scored 2 goals with 20 assists and was a respectable +3 with 154 PIM in 54 games. DeLory’s sound defensive play was sometimes overshadowed by dirty play, which included a spearing incident with Sarnia that resulted in an eight-game suspension. Delory played well in the playoffs for Oshawa, scoring 1 goal with 8 assists and was +5 with 26 PIM as Oshawa advanced to the Eastern Conference finals. The Sharks chose to relinquish his rights and Florida signed him to an entry level contract in July.
2008-09: DeLory made his professional hockey playing one game with the Florida Everblades in the ECHL but was then sent back to Oshawa as an overage player. DeLory returned to playing forward and scored 4 goals with 6 assists and was -11 with 53 PIM in 33 games. DeLory received a 12-game suspension after slashing and then fighting Kingston’s Nathan Moon in a February game.

HF’s November 2008 Q&A with DeLory.
2009-10: DeLory was assigned to Bossier-Shreveport in the Central Hockey League. He appeared in 36 games with Bossier-Shreveport as a forward. DeLory scored 2 goals with 1 assist and was +2 with 78 PIM. He appeared in 11 playoff games for the Mudbugs and was +2 with 19 PIM.

Talent Analysis

DeLory is listed as a defenseman on the Panthers' prospect list but has played forward the past two seasons. He is a big bodied, banger at this point in his career with limited skating ability and has been out of control at times in the past. A throwback to the days where every team had two or three enforcers, DeLory is a project at this point in his career.

Future

DeLory will need to have an impressive camp if he's to remain in the Panthers' organization. It was hoped that he could develop into a solid stay-at-home defenseman when the Sharks drafted DeLory in 2006. DeLory's lack of skating ability, along with limited technical skills and hockey sense, have not allowed that to happen. Instead, DeLory has relied on his toughness and fighting skills. At the pro level, his value is as an enforcer or "energy" player. While a team may have the need of his services, DeLory appears to be a career minor leaguer.